Fallen hiker identified

Posted Aug 2, 2017

ALAMOSA — Alamosa County Coroner Kevin Rogers on Tuesday announced the identity of the hiker who fell on Mt. Blanca on July 28. Rogers said the man, who fell to his death late morning on Friday, has positively been identified as Barney F. Cruz, IV, 27, of Seguin, Texas.

Rogers said several means were used congruently to determine the man’s identity including dental and fingerprint records. Cruz had no identifying documents on his person when his body was recovered off the mountain on Friday.

Witnesses heard rocks sliding and then saw the body of the man who had fallen around 11 a.m. on Friday. Search and rescue teams recovered his body, bringing it down from the mountain Friday night.

Rogers said he did not yet have autopsy results back for cause and manner of death. He added that the man’s family has been notified of his death.